While even a heart attack and hospitalization can’t keep Egyptian Investigators from looking into Mubarek’s alleged embezzlement of government funds and Nelly Furtado, Beyonce and even the London School of Economics are dumping tainted Gaddafi loot, PR Watch notes that ol’ “Baseball Bat” Walker is still hanging on to $7k in tainted money from convicted felonBill Gardner – CEO of the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad (WSOR).

Just a little more than 100 days into office, ol’ “Baseball Bat” Walker’s scandals are proving Walker as corrupt a Strongman as, well, let’s just say even Milhous “I am not a crook” Nixon might approve.

Ol’ Baseball Bat’s only “problem” is Wisconsin’s Government Accountability Board doesn’t approve of criminal behavior.

And just the other day: Scandal in Fitzwalkerstan: Top Donor Pleads Guilty in Money-Laundering Scheme to Aid Governor Walker.

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, and ol” Baseball Bat – GOPer Governor Scott Walker demonstrates it: “Republicans run on the platform “Gov’t doesn’t work!” – once elected, they prove it.”

Previous Strongman Reports follow!

(Strongman Report – 14 April 2011)

(Strongman Report – 30 March 2011)

(Strongman Report – 20 March 2011)

(Strongman Report – 08 March 2011)

(Strongman Report – 05 March 2011)

(Strongman Report – 01 March 2011)

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

I bring this up today, because of a column the other day on Alternet.org:

10 Historical ‘Facts’ Only a Right-Winger Could Believe
Facts, including historical ones, are ‘biased’ against the right’s worldview.
By Roy Edroso February 11, 2011

Here’s a couple off the list:

10. The Robber Barons weren’t robbers — they were capitalist heroes.

7. The Founding Fathers really tried to end slavery.

4. Margaret Sanger was all about the eugenics.

1. FDR: History’s greatest monster.

And here’s how the author concludes his column:

Clearly the War on FDR is a proxy struggle with the (substantially less aggressive) current president — they seek to make activist government look foolish, in hopes of preventing it from being tried again. But then, in a way all their other historical revisions are also directed at their current enemies. They go through the ghost of Margaret Sanger to stymie feminists; through the shades of Galileo and Darwin to warn off scientists; through the late MLK to get at voters whose enthusiasm for a black president thwarts their own electoral ambitions, etc. For them, history, like everything else, is just politics by other means.

This column is all about “dividing and conquering” – the only way the GOP – The Small Tent Party – can achieve electoral victory.

Tell an untruth – a “lie” if you prefer – and splinter off a segment of the electorate (eithe through gaining their vote, or disgusting them to the point they stay home on election day) is how the GOP operates.

“I have been thinking that I would make a proposition to my Republican friends… that if they will stop telling lies about the Democrats, we will stop telling the truth about them.” ~ Adlai E. Stevenson

True then, true now, and it’ll be true tomorrow too – just as “Republicans are morally bankrupt, intellectually dishonest, and institutionally corrupt” is true.

The only way to stop the GOP’s Small Tent “divide and conquer” strategy is to band and stand together with people you simply will not always agree with, but agree with most of the time.

The “DFL” here in Minnesota is, by definition, a coalition. “Democrats, Farmers, and Labor.” By definition, the diverse members of this coalition have not/ do not/ will not always agree. And that’s ok. Just remember that while you’re arguing an issue with someone that generally agrees with you on other issues, they generally agree with you on other issues. Agree to disagree on that issue when the day is done, because being part of this coalition makes strength through numbers; strength to fight The Small Tent Party’s lies, deceit, revisionistic history – the GOP’s “divide and conquer strategy.”

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there).

Earlier today, Katie posted this:

“DFLers’ second complaint is that business groups relied on below-the-belt negative advertising. This rings hollow. In 2010, the left threw the first and dirtiest mud ball.

On July 6, Alliance for a Better Minnesota (ABM) — an independent, DFL-allied group funded primarily by public unions and Dayton’s family — launched what was probably the earliest attack ad in Minnesota campaign history, …” (emphasis added)(StarTribune.com)

Wrong-o, Katie-o!!!

“I’ll take dirty politics for $200, Alex.”
by: TwoPuttTommy
Wed Jul 29, 2009 at 21:35:02 PM CDT

“Here’s the answer: In 2009, they ran the first negative ad for the 2010 Minnesota elections.”

“Who are FEC Tony and MudSlingerMike?”

“You are correct!”

Smart money was betting that with the election of Tony Sutton and Michael Brodkorb, the GOP was going down and dirtier. So far, those bets look like winners. Over 15 months out, and Sutton and Broadkorb seem bound and determined to make the 2010 elections the nastiest ever. (MnProgressiveProject.com)

Points to whoever can differentiate between that GOPer liar from the 6th district, and that GOPer liar on the Strib Editorial Page.

Bonus points to the first who can name who MudSlingerMike and FEC Tony tossed that first “mud ball” at, back in July of 2009.

Discuss.

(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

In my copy, in the chapter titled “Who Created the Tone?” Al wrote:

“(T)urning the public arena into a wasteland of personal destruction takes an entire army of like-minded ideologues hell-bent on shredding the already tattered standards of decency that once permitted a reasonable discourse on matters of import.

The left, sadly, has no such army. Our attack dogs are a scrawny, underfed pack of mutts that spend half the time chasing their own tails and sniffing each other’s butt. The right, by contrast, appears to have a well-oiled puppy mill for pit bulls, bred to kill and trained to go for the jugular. Or the balls.” (from LIES And the Lying Liars Who Tell Them)

Al wrote that in 2003. Who can tell me what – if anything – has changed in the last 7 years?

(cross posted from Mn Progressive Project; comments welcome there)

So I’ve been driving around today, checking to see if any of those SouthWest TeaBaggers were sitting just over 100 feet from the polling places in Eden Prairie and Chanhassen – you know, so they can stop the hordes evil liberal/leftist/socialist/French-Fry eating election-stealing ACORNers from stealing the election from those hard working TeaBaggers. And, of course, so far I’ve seen none of them keeping democracy (with a small “d”) safe in America.

I did see the following:

So I paced from the front door of Precinct 1 in Chanhassen, the Fire Station on 7610 Laredo Blvd to the front corner of the driver’s side on the truck: 14 yards.

And the ol’ TwoPutter knows 14 yards when he paces it….

And who Might Vicki Ernst be? Well, she’s an incumbent Chanhassen Council Member, and she was elected as an At-Large Delegate in the GOP’s 2nd District in 2008.

Incumbent, big ol’ truck with a big ol’ sign well within the 100 foot boundary – of COURSE she’s a GOPer.

We’ll see if Carver County does anything about it…

…but, if those angry white folk from Carver County and Eden Prairie aren’t guarding THEIR election polling places, where are they?

Hmmm….

…stay tuned!

(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)

Yeah, “right.”

Let’s see if you, the Gentle Reader, can identify the Democrats endorsed in the following lists: endorsements from the Eden Prairie Chamber Of Commerce, the TwinWest Chamber, and the State Chamber.

Good luck!

Happy hunting!!!

(extra points if you can find the Democrats endorsed that AREN’T incumbents)

Eden Prairie Chamber Of Commerce endorsements:

Donna Azarian – City Council
David Hann – State Senate
Jenifer Loon – State Rep
Kathy Nelson – City Council
Kirk Stensruud – State Rep

TwinWest Chamber Of Commerce endorsements:

State House
33A – Steve Smith
32B – Kurt Zellers
33B – Connie Doepke
42A – Kirk Stensrud
43A – Sarah Anderson

State Senate
32 – Warren Limmer
33 – Gen Olson
42 – David Hann
43 – Terri Bonoff
45 – Ann Rest
46 – Linda Scheid

Congress
Erik Paulsen

Minnesota Chamber Of Commerce endorsements:

Governor – Tom Emmer

Attorney General – Chris Barden

Minnesota House
4A Mr. Richard Lehmann
8B Mr. Roger Crawford
10A Representative Bud Nornes
10B Representative Mark Murdock
11A. Representative Torrey Westrom
11B Ms. Mary Franson
13A Representative Paul Anderson
14A Mr. Tim O’Driscoll
14B Mr. Tom Ellenbecker
15A Representative Steve Gottwalt
15B Mr. King Banaian
16A Ms. Sondra Erickson
16B Representative Mary Kiffmeyer
17A Mr. Kurt Daudt
17B Mr. Bob Barrett
18A Representative Ron Shimanski
18B Representative Dean Urdahl
19A Representative Bruce Anderson
19B Mr. Joe McDonald
21A Mr. Chirstopher Swedzinski
21B Representative Paul Torkelson
22A Mr. Joe Schomacker
22B Representative Rod Hamilton
24A Representative Bob Gunther
25B Mr. Kelby Woodard
26B Mr. Daniel Kaiser
28A Representative Tim Kelly
28B Representative Steve Drazkowski|
29A Mr. Duane Quam
30A Mr. Charlie O’Connell
32B Representative Kurt Zellers
33A Representative Steve Smith
33B Representative Connie Doepke
34B Representative Joe Hoppe
35A Representative Mike Beard
35B Representative Mark Buesgens
36B Representative Pat Garofalo
37A Representative Tara Mack
37B Mr. Kurt Bills
38A Ms. Diane Anderson
38B Mr. Doug Wardlow
40A Ms. Pam Myhra
41B Mr. Pat Mazerol
42A Mr. Kirk Stensrud
42B Representative Jenifer Loon
43A Representative Sarah Anderson
48A Representative Tom Hackbarth
49A Representative Peggy Scott
50B Mr. Russell Bertsch
51A Representative Tim Sanders
52A Representative Bob Dettmer
52B Representative Matt Dean
53A Ms. Linda Runbeck
53B Representative Carol McFarlane
56A Representative Julie Bunn
56B Ms. Andrea Kieffer
57A Mr. John Kriesel
57B Representative Denny McNamara

Minnesota Senate
4 Mr. John Carlson
12 Mr. Paul Gazelka
14 Senator Michelle Fischbach
15 Mr. John Pederson
17 Mr. Sean Nienow
18 Mr. Scott Newman
19 Senator Amy Koch
21 Mr. Gary Dahms
22 Representative Doug Magnus
24 Senator Julie Rosen
25 Mr. Al DeKruif
26 Senator Mike Parry
28 Mr. John Howe
29 Senator David Senjem
30 Ms. Carla Nelson
31 Mr. Jeremy Miller
34 Senator Julianne Ortman
35 Senator Claire Robling
36 Mr. Dave Thompson
37 Senator Chris Gerlach
38 Mr. Ted Daley
39 Senator Jim Metzen
41 Senator Geoff Michel
42 Senator David Hann
43 Senator Terri Bonoff
45 Senator Ann Rest
47 Mr. Benjamin Kruse
48 Senator Mike Jungbauer
52 Senator Ray Vandeveer
53 Mr. Roger Chamberlain
56 Mr. Ted Lillie
56 Senator Kathy Saltzman

(crossposted from MnProgressiveProject.com; comments – and answers! – welcome there)

Here’s what I said, after the SD42 GOP webmaster made that startling revelation:

When a voter went to Phil Young’s website in 2006, researching candidate Young, the casual voter could/would assume that the website was Youngs; that the thoughts/ideas presented in Young’s website were his.

Four years later, you’re finally telling us that simply isn’t true; the website wasn’t his; the thoughts weren’t his – they were/are “the author’s.”

And you’re now admitting that Azarian’s website isn’t hers; the thoughts/ideas in it aren’t hers: the website and the thoughts belong to the “same author.”

Peter, why don’t you quit the charade, and just have one website listing the GOP Party Manifesto, and list the GOPer Endorsed candidates that fall in line?

It would be much more honest; then again, honesty isn’t a long suit in today’s GOP.

“Peter” is Peter Bozanich, webmaster for the GOP SD42, and a member of the local GOP’s “leadership.”

It’s pretty clear the following post from 04 October 2010 is correct; the local GOP “leadership” tells GOPer endorsed candidates what to say.

Well, more accurately: it says it for them; the “leadership” just doesn’t tell you that…..

Eden Prairie Republican Leadership: “Re-Elect Phil Young! No, Wait: Elect Donna Azarian!!!”
by: TwoPuttTommy Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 12:22:50 PM CDT

I’ve been saying this for years: “when it comes to Republican Congressmen, the people elect them, but the GOP Leadership directs them.” (see “The Hustler”, 29 Jan 08). This saying relates to changes made by Newt “Is My Wife Well Enough To Divorce Yet?” Gingich. Gingrich, of course, is the architect of 1994′s “Republican Contract On With America”, where in the GOPers promised to, and I quote: FOURTH, limit the terms of all committee chairs; which fundamentally changed how the House GOP Caucus operates, and directly led to the institutionalized corruption of the GOP Party – best exemplified by the infamous Jack Abramoff. Make no mistake, Gentle Readers: The Abramoff Scandal was a Republican Scandal. If a GOPer is in “denial of reality” mode (they usually are), remind them of this.

It was back in those days that I also started saying: “GOP now stands for ‘Greed Over Principles’”. For a scholarly review of what exactly that “#4″ above (and more!) did to the US House of Representatives, get a copy of Thomas Mann and Norm Ornstein’s “The Broken Branch” (Oxford University Press).

That’s background for today’s post and it’s title. (For more background, last week, we looked at some wanna-be “king makers”.) Today’s post is a quick examination of two local (Eden Prairie) “do as your told” GOPer-Endorsed politicians: the outgoing (and could/should be going to trial Mayor Phil Young and City Council Candidate Donna Azarian. More specifically, their websites; Young’s website from 2008 2006 and Azarian’s current 2010 website.

Why look at Young and Azarian’s websites? Well, because they’re eerily similar. How similar? There’s lots of screenshots below the fold, so: let’s look!

From Phil Young’s 2008 2006 “Values” webpage:

Parks and Open Spaces: The park system drew my family to Eden Prairie and I am certain many other families say the same thing. Eden Prairie has an incredibly rich park system which benefits residents of all interests and ages. This must always be a priority.

OK, let’s look at Donna Azarian’s 2010 “Issues” webpage:

Parks and Open Space — The park system is one reason my family came to Eden Prairie and I am certain many other families say the same thing. Eden Prairie has an incredibly rich park system which benefits residents of all interests and ages. This must always be a priority.

Hmmm…. pretty dam close… any more? But of course!

From Phil Young’s 2008 2006 “Values” webpage:

Volunteerism: Eden Prairie is an extraordinarily blessed community. Proudly, our residents can claim that giving back has long been a community value. Lions, Rotary, PROP, ABC Foundation, Meals On Wheels, Friends of the Library, and the Eden Prairie Foundation are but a few of the many groups which strengthen our city through volunteerism. If you haven’t conributed to one of these groups, please do. (emphasis added)

From Donna Azarian’s 2010 “Issues” webpage:

Working with local organizations — Eden Prairie has many local organizations that add to our quality of life. Lions, Rotary, PROP, ABC Foundation, Meals On Wheels, Friends of the Library, and the Eden Prairie Foundation are but a few of the many groups which strengthen our city through volunteerism. (emphasis added)

Any more? But of course!!!

From Phil Young’s 2008 2006 “Values” webpage:

Efficient Government: Eden Prairie is a very-well run city. I want to make it even better….

GOPer-Endorsed Azarian, 2010 “Issues”:

Fiscal Responsibility — Eden Prairie is a very-well run city. I want to make it even better….

More? You betcha!!!

Young, 2008 2006:

…While every community should take steps to capture its past, our residents have told us that spending tax dollars on historical preservation is not a priority. The City Council should honor the community opinions which it has solicited.

Azarian, 2010:

…While every community should take steps to capture its past, our residents have told us that spending tax dollars on historical preservation is not a priority. The City Council should honor the community opinions which it has solicited.

I could go on; maybe someday I will. The question is, just who wrote that stuff??!?

Phil Young, or the local GOP “leadership”?

We know – KNOW – Donna Azarian didn’t; there are too many exact – EXACT – cut ‘n pastes for THAT to have happened. We also know (and if you didn’t, you know now) that Donna Azarian’s website was registered by Peter Bozanich, the GOP’s SD42 webmaster.

At the national level, as I’ve said before: “When it comes to Republican Congressmen, the people elect them, but the GOP Leadership directs them.”

It appears to be the same at the local level, too.

This November 2nd, on election day, the choice is clear:

a) Vote locally for someone endorsed with an “R” behind their name and you vote for someone responsible to the dictates of their endorser: the local GOP Party Leadership; or

b) Vote locally for someone without a party endorsement and you vote for someone responsible to you, the voter.

It really is that simple; a) or b).

And remember, as Young’s and Azarian’s websites demonstrate: “the more things, change, the more today’s GOP doesn’t.”

Here’s the links and screenshots of Young, 2008 2006 and Azarian, 2010, plus the “Who Is” screen shot of the registrar for Azarian’s website, Peter Bozanich – the GOP’s SD42 Webmaster.

Donna Azarian’s 2010 “Issues” webpage:

Phil Young’s 2008 2006 “Issues” webpage – hosted by the SD42 GOP:

Donna Azarian’s 2010 “Values” webpage

Phil Young’s 2008 2006 “Values” webpge (cached) – and again, hosted by the SD42 GOP:

Donna Azarian’s 2010 webpage registration, registered by Peter Bozanich — the SD42 GOP webmaster:

(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject.com, comments welcome there)

Today we’ll be talking with John Van Hecke, Executive Director and Fellow at the Minnesota 2020 thinktank about he Republican tactic of repealing health care reform if they take control of Congress and what Minnesota healthcare will look like if they are successful.

For a quick look at the historic Health care legislation, go to AARP.org.

We’ll also be talking to DFL State Representative Maria Ruud (Nurse Practitioner when the State Legislature is not in session) and her race for re-election.

I’ll be talking about, and asking listeners to call in about, particularly egregious examples of Republicans behaving badly during this election cycle. In particular, I’ll be singling out Republican State Representative Mary Kiffmeyer.

Here’s the artwork that once adorned a wall at Kiffmeyer’s failed bank; I call it “Jesus At The Closing Table”:

(more details here)

So, again, tune in the radio today to AM-950, or listen live on your computer, here.

(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

In 1994, Newt “Is My Wife Well Enough To Divorce Yet?” Gingrich came up with some slogans he packaged and sold as “The Contract On With America.” In September 2010, GOPer Minority Leader (thank God!) John Boehner cut and pasted from it and repackaged that same old (stuff) as the “Pledge To America.” Let’s look!

(link to The Daily Show” here)

In California, The “new” GOPer candidate for Governor is saying the exact same (stuff) the old GOPer candidate did. Let’s look!

(Link to YouTube here)

WOW!!! They titled that YouTube “Echoes” for a reason, yes?

And then locally, as described in full detail here, disgraced GOPer Mayor Phil Young’s 2006 campaign website was blatantly cut and pasted to GOPer Endorsed candidate Donna Azarian’s 2010 campaign website.

This is from Phil Young’s 2006 “Values” webpage:

Efficient Government: Eden Prairie is a very-well run city. I want to make it even better….

This is on the GOPer-Endorsed Azarian, 2010 “Issues” webpage:

Fiscal Responsibility — Eden Prairie is a very-well run city. I want to make it even better….

More? But of course!!!

Young, circa 2006:

…While every community should take steps to capture its past, our residents have told us that spending tax dollars on historical preservation is not a priority. The City Council should honor the community opinions which it has solicited.

GOPer Azarian, today:

…While every community should take steps to capture its past, our residents have told us that spending tax dollars on historical preservation is not a priority. The City Council should honor the community opinions which it has solicited.

And there’s more, of course, as described in full detail here – with screenshots, too! Maybe I should make another YouTube….

It’s really rather pathetic. The more things change, the more the CAP (Cut And Paste) GOP doesn’t.

(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)

This video documents a few Veterans responses to Emmer saying, essentially, that Democrats, even military veterans, can’t be real patriots.

I’d like to remind everyone that on 07 April 1775, Samuel Johnson said that “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.”

On 26 September 2009, Republican Candidate for Governor Tom Emmer demonstrated that he indeed is a scoundrel.

I paid for this with my dime. It’s not not approved by any candidate nor is any candidate responsible for it. It’s my deal and my deal only. Let’s look!

(YouTube direct link here)

(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject.com, please post comments there)